the flood, food, and friends.

   This weekend mom, dad, and myself were able to enjoy some time with Ryan, Ashley, and the kids but got a call that we needed to leave early. Turns out there was quite a bit of rain while we were gone. In fact, it rained so much that our hottub somehow crashed through the walk-out door and into our basement which resulted in four feet of water rushing into our basement. The water went up four feet and needless to say not much was salvageable. My room was pretty much destroyed, but thank the Lord I could save many of my clothes! In the midst of preparing for India this has been a pretty large road bump and given me a few extra worries. During the six hour drive home from Rapid I had thought I had prepared myself, but when I walked in I realized there was absolutely nothing that could have prepared me for what I saw. 

    This flood has been a good reminder that stuff is simply that--stuff. Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." My stuff is replaceable, but it is still hard to let that go. The hardest part was letting go of many memories, pictures, and some of Case's stuff and seeing all of the hard work my parents have put in over the last four years be destroyed. But throughout this all there have been many blessings- One, praise the Lord I was not home or could have easily been injured or caught in my room. Second, I'm leaving in two weeks, most of my packed things were saved and I can handle an air mattress for those two weeks! Third, we have been  BEYOND blessed by neighbors, church members, family, and friends helping us out through food, cleaning up, prayers, or donations. I do not know what else to say other than THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! This is one of those times that I am so thankful mama taught me to find joy in everything, because no matter what...I am blessed. I serve a God who is good all the time. 

[my room post-water and pre-cleanup]

one of the loads in the dump truck

psssh, who needs a bedroom anyway!

might as well have some fun cleaning up, right?!

a good reminder

18 days to go and I feel like I'm caught up in the business of summer. This morning I took some time to be still with God and He really challenged me. I was reading in Acts about the apostles being persecuted and one verse jumped out at me. After being ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus verse 41 says this: "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." First, they were rejoicing because they had suffered. They weren't worried about how they looked to society, they were only concerned about being faithful to their Father. They were focused on eternal things instead of superficial, earthly things. They understood that this world is not our home! Second, they considered themselves worthy to have been disgraced. The side-note in my Bible says, "It is a great credit if the world discredits someone for an uncompromised commitment to God." Later in Acts it also says they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news,that Jesus is the Christ. They didn't let anything stop them! This is exactly what James 1:2-4 looks like being lived out: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." The entire time reading this I thought about my summer. Will I rejoice when I face trials? Will I rejoice if I suffer for Christ's name? This one verse was a good reminder that no matter what happens this summer, I need to be joyful always and rejoice when I face trials because God is alive and He's at work.   

As my departure date gets closer here are a few specific prayer requests:

• That the peace of God would guard my heart and I would fully trust in him as I prepare to leave
• for safety and health traveling, but also for safety for all of my loved ones back home. Lately I've been thinking a lot about everyone staying healthy here while I'm gone.
• It's going to be very difficult for me to leave my parents. I've never been away from them for more than 2 weeks, so pray that as I leave my earthly parents I would grow closer to my dad in Heaven!
• preparation for the hearts of the people I encounter- that their hearts would be open to Christ's love. 

blessed

• my summer is becoming more real every single day.
• 34 days. 
• 34 days until I get on a plane and say some really hard see-you later's. (only 2 days until I say some really tough NW see-you later's)
• 34 days until I travel 9,402 miles to the other side of the globe.
• 34 days until I'm torn between sheer excitement and sheer panic. 
• 34 days until immense joy.
• 34 days until culture shock.
• 34 days.

In the midst of the craziness of finals week, I have been overwhelmed with blessings...some small and some big. I've been blessed by the people at Northwestern. The people on this campus are family, and this place is  where I feel at home. I've been blessed by prayers and baked goodies from teachers and librarians. I've been blessed through good conversations in-between study breaks. I've been blessed by my SOS team. I've been blessed by all of you supporting me on this journey! Seeing the support come in and having people come up to me to tell me they're praying for me is seriously a bigger blessing than any of you could know! I'm being blessed in ways I probably do not even realize. 

{these girls. these girls are my sisters in Christ. They are the definition of Godly encouragement and joy. They make Fern 3rd East a beautiful place to call home}

{for our final SOS meeting as a team, we held a prayer service. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - from Matthew 5 & 28}

Lord Jesus, help me to be flexible and willing to do your work. Call me out of my comfort zone so you may be glorified. Prepare my heart for what I will encounter in India. Fill me up with your love so that I may pour that overwhelming love into those I encounter. Each and every day, remind me to become less so you may become greater.